JT Torres, Gustavo Dantas and Bruno Bastos at last year's Southwest Classic / Publicity photo

The big additions to the open light (167.5 lbs and under) division are 2011 Abu Dhabi World Pro champion Augusto “Tanquinho” Mendes and 2011 American National champion Osvaldo “Queixinho” Moizinho. The open heavy (over 167.5 lbs) division boasts the 2011 Arizona state open class champion, Marcel Fortuna, and 2011 American Cup winner Diego Herzog.

The winners of both divisions will receive a plane ticket to Lisbon, Portugal, to compete at the 2012 IBJJF European Championship. Black belts interested in vying for their chance at the plane tickets should visit http://strongvon.com/southwestbjj3 to register before the deadline.

The Open Class has drawn top names such as Gracie Barra’s Roberto “Tussa” Alencar and Nova União’s Bruno Bastos, as well as rising contenders like Guybson Sa, Marco Machado, Ryan Beauregard and ex-NFL wide-receiver, Michael Westbrook. Smaller fighters, such as Samir Chantre and Rafael “Barata” Freitas, have also stepped up to the challenge.

Stay tuned to GRACIEMAG.com for updates over the weekend.

The brackets will be available on Friday at http://www.strongvon.com/azopen6/

Check out the highlights of the 5th AZ International Open:

Text by Kristina Barlaan, photos by Lisa Rae Hight

This past weekend, on February 5th, Arizona made history in the Jiu-Jitsu community by hosting it’s very first all-female open mat. Simply entitled “Inspire”, the free event gathered over 50 women from 23 different schools, hailing from South San Francisco, Las Vegas, and all over Arizona, on to the mats of Team Megaton in Phoenix. Organized by Gustavo Dantas Purple belt Kristina Barlaan (Nova União), the success of the event could not have been possible without the support of Luciana Dias (Gracie Humaita), the first and only female Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt in Arizona, and her step-daughter, Mackenzie Dern (Gracie Humaita), who is fresh off her double-gold performance at the 2011 European Championship.

Left to right: Mackenzie Dern, Luciana Dias, Kristina Barlaan

“When I was in the beginning stages of putting together “Inspire”, I was thinking that I could maybe get 20 or 25 girls to participate. I never imagined that over 50 girls would want to attend, but as I watched the numbers increase day by day, I came to the realization that it was really going to happen. The support of everyone in the community was overwhelming!” states Kristina.

With the three leading ladies of Arizona Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu heading the front, “Inspire” set up a forum which made it possible for female Jiu-Jitsu players to train, learn, and bond with one another. The event also welcomed women who have never trained or have been curious about Jiu-Jitsu, providing a fresh and friendly environment which would allow them to discover the gentle art. To top off the day, prizes were raffled off to the participants. The lucky ladies received OTM Fight Shop products, a Fenom Kimono, and free registration to compete at the 6th AZ International Open scheduled for the end of the month. Entry prizes, such as a free issue of GRACIEMAG and Women Representing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu T-shirts were also provided.

Although at opposite ends of the bracket, Mackenzie and Kristina love partnering up to share their knowledge and passion with other ladies.

With the success of “Inspire”, Kristina hopes to be able to keep building from the open mat:

“I really just wanted to provide an event that made the girls feel special. I want them to know that it’s ok to build friendships with girls even though they may be from an opposing team or someone who they will compete against. There’s only a few of us and the only way we’ll keep growing is if we support one another and contribute to events like “Inspire”. This was only the first run, but there will be more to come in the future and I hope to be able provide more of these types of opportunities. I’m passionate about what I do and I’m hoping that all the ladies were able to receive that message. I want them to be able to feel like they can inspire others to do the same.”

To see more photos from “Inspire”, click here.

Nova União USA president Gustavo Dantas / Photo: John Cooper

Our GMA Gustavo Dantas is a busy man. The Vice-President of the AZSBJJF, and promoter one of the fastest growing tournaments in the United States, Dantas’s GD Jiu-Jitsu Events brings in such talent as: Kron Gracie, Robson Moura, JT Torres, Caio Terra, Bruno Bastos, and many others to perform in Arizona, but his responsibilities don’t end there. Dantas is the President of renowned Team Nova União in the USA and is responsible for structuring the team in the country. Check out this interview with one of Nova União’s leaders around the world.

How was 2010 for Nova Uniao USA?

I feel it was a very important year, especially since we started to organize all the official schools in the USA to put Nova União back on the podium at IBJJF championships. We got in contact with all first generation NU black belts and started getting a stronger team for the tournaments, but we have long ways to go. Our team placed at the Vegas Open, the U.S. No-Gi Nationals and took first at the Pan in the juvenile division.

Who were the Nova União standouts of 2010?

In the black belt Division, without a doubt, Bruno Bastos was the standout. He won a lot of tournaments this year, he is definitely the most active Nova União black belt competitor in the world. Also from Texas, Peter Runez, who took silver in a very tough brown belt/lightweight division at the Worlds, and Claudia Gadelha had a great year as well.

From Arizona, Kristina Barlaan won a lot of IBJJF Tournaments, including the Pan, Rio Open, and U.S. Nationals (Gi and No-Gi), getting promoted to purple belt. The same with Issa Able, who took third at the World Cup in Abu Dhabi and took second place in the blue belt/feather at the Worlds. He, too, received his purple belt

You competed at a couple of tournaments this year as well. How was that?

Well, since I moved to the USA (twelve years ago), my priorities changed a lot. I compete when I feel like it or when I have time to train often. I won the Vegas Open in the feather/master division and I won the International Master and Senior in the eather/senior 1; I am getting old! (laughs). But I am plan on competing again in 2011.

What are the plans for Nova União USA in 2011?

Our goal is to put Nova União back on the podium at the Worlds, and 2010 was a big step in that direction. Also, Nova União helps my non-profit organization called Live Jiu-Jitsu, which focuses on supporting BJJ projects in Brazil and other places around the World. The website is almost ready and we will be promoting a lot more. Ten perscent of the sales from novauniao.com will go towards the projects like Morro Azul (click here for the Morro Azul “Tatame Legal” project website) and Morro Santo Amaro, run by Andre Pederneiras black belts Fabiano Freitas (recently featured on GRACIEMAG.com here) and Marlon Sandro, respectively. Last year we were able to buy forty brand new gis and new mats for the Morro Azul project.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank?

Too many people to thank, but in special my two main instructors who got me where I am right now, my first instructor, Fernando Cruz, and my current instructor for the past fifteen years, Andre Pederneiras, who inspires me a lot in everything I do for my students and for the community.

The gentle art tournament will offer Kids, Juvenile, Adult (male and female), Masters, and Senior Divisions. Last year, the tournament gathered 560 competitors, including world class competitors like Kron Gracie and Robson Moura, and with the 2nd Southwest Classic bringing in 610, including Jiu-Jitsu stars like JT Torres, Caio Terra, and Bruno Bastos, it is expected that in 2011the AZSBJJF will break the 700-competitor mark.

Participants will have the chance to win prizes such as a Nintendo Wii and a sponsorship package to compete at the 2011 Pan, in Irvine, California. The sponsorship package will cover sign-up fee, airfare, and hotel accommodations (Restrictions apply. See registration website for full details).

Go to www.strongvon.com/azopen6 for full details on sponsorship package restrictions

5th AZ international Open highlight video:

Gustavo Dantas
President, Nova União USA
1401 S. McClintock Dr. Tempe,AZ 85281
www.novauniao.com

Gustavo Dantas teaches seminars in Tempe

Vice-president of the Arizona State Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (AZBJJF) and leader of team Nova União in the United States Gustavo Dantas still finds time to conduct seminars. Most recently, the black belt taught his techniques to the Tempe, Arizona, police department.

With around twenty-five participants, among them male and female police officers, Dantas went over situations typically to arise on the street, when detaining criminals and even defending themselves from aggressive suspects.

“With MMA’s rise in popularity in Arizona, the police are often put in situations where they face people committing criminal infractions who have fighting backgrounds and use the techniques against the officers. Many of these officers don’t know how to defend themselves in this type of confrontation. They just want to enforce the law, protect people, and it’s important that they be able to control criminals safely,” he states.

Now Gustavo carries on in his busy schedule. His next engagement is the Southwest BJJ Classic, an event he promotes that will count 600 participants on the 16th and 17th of this month in Mesa, Arizona.

Gustavo Dantas nos seminários em Phoenix

Vice-presidente da Federação de Jiu-Jitsu do Arizona (AZSBJJF) e um dos comandantes da Nova União nos EUA, Gustavo Dantas ainda tem tempo para ministrar seminários. O faixa-preta ensinou suas técnicas aos policiais do departamento de polícia de Tempe, em Phoenix, nos Estados Unidos. 

Com aproximadamente 25 participantes, entre eles policiais do sexo masculino e feminino, Dantas visou situações típicas que os mesmos podem encontrar nas ruas, na hora de deter, prender e até se defender de um suspeito.     

“Com a popularidade do MMA no Arizona, os policiais já estiveram em situações que os infratores tinham antecedentes de luta e usaram as técnicas contra os oficiais. Muitos desses oficiais não sabiam como se defender nesse tipo de confronto. Eles querem apenas fazer cumprir a lei, proteger as pessoas, e é importante serem capazes de controlar infratores de forma segura”, comenta.

E Gustavo não para. Os compromissos seguem na organização do  Southwest BJJ Classic, evento que vai contar com 600 participantes nos dias 16 e 17 de outubro, em St. Mesa, no Arizona.

The Jiu-Jitsu competition features kids, juveniles, adult (Male and Female), masters and senior divisions, plus two black belt open classes: open light (167.5 lbs and under) and open heavy (Over 167.5 lbs). The winner of each open division will receive a ticket to the 2011 European BJJ Championship in Lisbon, Portugal*.

IMPORTANT: Registration will be closed for the kids division once two hundred competitors has been reached. Registration for juveniles, adults, masters, seniors, and women will be closed after 450 competitors.
GD Jiu-Jitsu Events will be offering FREE tournament T-Shirts to ALL competitors who Pre-Register for the tournament by the PRE-REGISTRATION DEADLINE of October 8th at 11:59 PM. Competitors registered AFTER this time will NOT receive a T-Shirt.

Bruno Bastos deve ser uma das feras em ação. Foto: divulgação

A GD Jiu-Jitsu Events em parceria com a Arizona State Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (AZSBJJF) anuncia o Arizona BJJ State Championship 2010. A competição acontece nos dias 16 e 17 de outubro, na Westwood High School, em Mesa, e a equipe da GRACIEMAG estará por lá.  

“O evento contará com disputas em todas as faixas e categorias. A maior premiação se destina às duas categorias da faixa-preta, até 76kg e livre, onde o campeão recebe uma passagem para o Europeu de Jiu-Jitsu 2011, em Lisboa”, comenta o organizador Gustavo Dantas. 

Além disso, outra passagem para o Europeu vai ser sorteada entre os campeões do juvenil ao sênior, independentemente da graduação. Já todas as crianças que competirem receberão uma rifa para concorrer a um vídeo game Nintendo Wii.

Até o dia 8 de outubro, os inscritos terão direito a um desconto e a camisa do evento. A data limite é no dia 12, sendo que as inscrições são limitadas. Para saber mais informações, clique aqui.